# Port Regis School > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Port_Regis_School > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Port_Regis_School.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Regis_School > Source revision: 1348469401 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Private preparatory school in Shaftesbury, Dorset, England Port Regis School Main building Location Motcombe Park Shaftesbury , Dorset , SP7 9QA England 51°01′12″N 2°12′57″W / 51.019867°N 2.215725°W / 51.019867; -2.215725 Information Type Private preparatory school Motto Altiora peto (I seek higher things) Established 1881 Department for Education URN 113915 Tables Headmaster Titus Mills Gender Mixed Age 2 to 13 Enrolment c. 360 Houses 4 Colours Navy, White & Maroon Website http://www.portregis.com/ **Port Regis School** is a [co-educational](/source/Co-educational) [preparatory school](/source/Preparatory_school_(UK)) located in 140 acres of parkland on the [Dorset](/source/Dorset)-[Wiltshire](/source/Wiltshire) border in southern England, situated between the towns of [Shaftesbury](/source/Shaftesbury) and [Gillingham](/source/Gillingham%2C_Dorset). ## History The original school was founded by Alfred Praetorius in 1881 in [Weymouth Street](/source/Weymouth_Street), London.[1] A few years later it moved to [Folkestone](/source/Folkestone) and in 1921 to Kingsgate, [Broadstairs](/source/Broadstairs), in the grounds of which stood an ancient arch, erected by [Earl Holland](/source/Earl_Holland) to commemorate a chance landing by [Charles II](/source/Charles_II_of_England) in 1683. This provided the name of the School: Port Regis, "Gate of the King". In the 1930s, while at Broadstairs, the school was unusual in offering scholarships for the sons of physicians.[2] In September 1943 Port Regis was evacuated to a wing of [Bryanston School](/source/Bryanston_School) in [Blandford](/source/Blandford).[3] After a brief stay at the [Earl of Verulam](/source/Earl_of_Verulam)'s home at [Gorhambury](/source/Gorhambury), the School moved in 1947 to [Motcombe](/source/Motcombe) Park, one mile (1.6 km) from [Shaftesbury](/source/Shaftesbury) in Dorset, where it has been ever since. In 1972 the freehold of the property was acquired. More recent developments include the building of the Jowett sports hall, opened in 1980 by [Anne, Princess Royal](/source/Anne%2C_Princess_Royal). The Centenary Hall was opened in 1984. On 22 February 1991, the Queen's Hall, which houses a heated swimming pool and competition-standard gymnasium with sunken trampoline, was opened by [Queen Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II) and [Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh](/source/Prince_Philip%2C_Duke_of_Edinburgh), while their grandchildren [Peter](/source/Peter_Mark_Andrew_Phillips) and [Zara Phillips](/source/Zara_Phillips) were at the school.[4] The three most recently constructed school buildings are Cunningham Hall (1992), Farrington Music School (2003) and the Upward Academic Centre (2008). ## Boarding houses The Prep school and Pre-Prep together consist of around 300 [pupils](/source/Student), with roughly half of them boys and half of them girls. There are four boarding houses: - **Grosvenor** (girls aged 11 to 13) - **Mansion Girls** (girls aged 7 to 11) - **Prichard** (boys aged 11 to 13) - **Mansion Boys** (boys aged 7 to 11) ## Staff and governors Since 1933, Port Regis has had six headmasters: John Upward (1933-1968), David Prichard (1969-1993), Peter Dix (1994-2010), Benedict Dunhill (2010-2015), Stephen Ilett (2016-2020), and Titus Mills (2021-). David Prichard, headmaster from 1969 to 1993, chaired the National Conference for Governors, Bursars and Heads from 1981 to 1993 and simultaneously chaired the [Independent Association of Preparatory Schools](/source/Independent_Association_of_Preparatory_Schools) in 1989–90.[5] The abstract painter [Roger Hilton](/source/Roger_Hilton) taught art at the school from 1946 to 1947.[6] [Lt. General Sir Hugh Cunningham](/source/Hugh_Cunningham_(British_Army_officer)) was chairman of the school's governing body from 1982 to 1994.[7] [James Iain Stevenson](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_Iain_Stevenson&action=edit&redlink=1), Brigadier of the [British Army](/source/British_Army) was from 17 June 2016 until 1 March 2019 a director of the school.[8] ## Notable former pupils (Old Portregians) See also: [Category:People educated at Port Regis School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:People_educated_at_Port_Regis_School) - [Kwame Anthony Appiah](/source/Kwame_Anthony_Appiah), British philosopher, cultural theorist, novelist and professor at [New York University](/source/New_York_University) - [Sir Louis Blom-Cooper](/source/Louis_Blom-Cooper), barrister, author, and chairman of the [Press Council](/source/Press_Council_(UK))[9] - [Myles Burnyeat](/source/Myles_Burnyeat), Emeritus Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge) - [Max Clark](/source/Max_Clark_(rugby_union)), professional rugby player at [Bath Rugby](/source/Bath_Rugby)[10] - [Jasper Conran](/source/Jasper_Conran), designer[11] - [Sebastian Conran](/source/Sebastian_Conran), designer and member of the [UK Design Council](/source/Design_Council) - John Deeker, pyrotechnician who designed the fireworks display for the 1981 [royal wedding](/source/Wedding_of_Charles%2C_Prince_of_Wales%2C_and_Lady_Diana_Spencer) of Charles and Diana[12] - [Hilary Dresser](/source/Hilary_Dresser), rower for the [Great Britain](/source/Great_Britain_at_the_Olympics) team at the [1992 Summer Olympics](/source/1992_Summer_Olympics) in Barcelona. - [Adetomiwa Edun](/source/Adetomiwa_Edun), actor who starred in the British TV series [Merlin](/source/Merlin_(2008_TV_series)) - [Luke Evans (politician)](/source/Luke_Evans_(politician)), Member of Parliament for [Bosworth (UK Parliament constituency)](/source/Bosworth_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) from 2019. - [Prince Rashid bin El Hassan](/source/Rashid_bin_El_Hassan), member of the [Jordanian Royal Family](/source/Jordanian_Royal_Family) - [Jonathan Gathorne-Hardy](/source/Jonathan_Gathorne-Hardy), biographer, historian and novelist[3] - [Nick Greenstock](/source/Nick_Greenstock), English international rugby player - [Adrian Heath](/source/Adrian_Heath_(painter)), artist[13] - George Hurst, Chief Conductor of the [BBC Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/BBC_Philharmonic_Orchestra) - [Daisy Lewis](/source/Daisy_Lewis), actress who starred in *[Downton Abbey](/source/Downton_Abbey)* and *[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)* - [Hugh Massingberd](/source/Hugh_Massingberd), journalist and genealogist, known as the father of the modern obituary[14] - [Amelia Maughan](/source/Amelia_Maughan), bronze medal-winning swimmer at the [2014 Commonwealth Games](/source/2014_Commonwealth_Games) - [Tim Payne](/source/Tim_Payne_(rugby_union)), English international rugby player - [Peter Phillips](/source/Peter_Mark_Andrew_Phillips), son of [Anne, Princess Royal](/source/Anne%2C_Princess_Royal)[4] - [Henry Pyrgos](/source/Henry_Pyrgos), Scottish international rugby player - [Geoffrey Rootes, 2nd Baron Rootes](/source/Geoffrey_Rootes%2C_2nd_Baron_Rootes), industrialist and Chairman of [Chrysler UK](/source/Chrysler)[15] - Bruce Sharman, film producer and production manager/supervisor of *[Star Wars](/source/Star_Wars_(film))* (1977) and *[The Empire Strikes Back](/source/The_Empire_Strikes_Back)* (1980)[16] - [Zara Tindall](/source/Zara_Tindall), daughter of [Anne, Princess Royal](/source/Anne%2C_Princess_Royal)[4] - Lloyd Wallace, gold medal-winning [aerial skier](/source/Freestyle_skiing#Aerial_skiing)[17] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-portregis.com_1-0)** ["StackPath"](http://www.portregis.com/362/welcome/history-of-port-regis). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *Homes and Gardens* for May 1940, in vol. 21 (1940), p. 427: "Port Regis, Broadstairs, is a preparatory school which has scholarships for sons of medical men..." 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hardy_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hardy_3-1) Jonathan Gathorne-Hardy, *Half an Arch: a memoir* (2004), [pp. 55–56](https://books.google.com/books?id=Bx7W-uJ10uoC&pg=PA55) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-graham_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-graham_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-graham_4-2) Tim Graham, *The Royal Year, 1991* (1992), p. 46 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** 'Prichard, David Colville Mostyn', in *[Who's Who 2012](/source/Who's_Who_(UK))* (London: A. & C. Black, 2011) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Adrian Lewis, *Roger Hilton* (Ashgate Publishing, 2003), [p. 4](https://books.google.com/books?id=1VB-UOcIT7cC&pg=PA4) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** 'Cunningham, Lt-Gen. Sir Hugh (Patrick)' in *Who's Who 2012* (London: A. & C. Black, 2011) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [James Iain STEVENSON](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/ZFsjU25Zoc-D8_KHs4Wwmln28oc/appointments) in *Companies House* 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** 'BLOM-COOPER, Sir Louis (Jacques)', in *Who's Who 2012* 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Bath Rugby Official Website | Academy squad | Max Clark"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141028224726/http://www.bathrugby.com/team/academy/academy-squad/max-clark). *www.bathrugby.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.bathrugby.com/team/academy/academy-squad/max-clark) on 28 October 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Western Daily Press 20 March 2010](http://www.jasperconran.com/collections/books/countrypress-html/western-daily-press,48,BLO.html) at jasperconran.com, Retrieved 8 February 2012 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["John Deeker"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9347811/John-Deeker.html). *The Daily Telegraph*. 21 June 2012. His prowess was built during a long career with Pain's, Britain's biggest firework company... ...When Deeker bought the company in 1980, it was the culmination of a lifelong fascination with fireworks. He already knew almost everything about the business, having worked there for more than 30 years, mostly as its managing director. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Julian Freeman, 'Heath, Adrian Lewis Ross (1920–1992), artist and art teacher' in *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (OUP, 2007) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-MM_14-0)** McGinness, Mark (2008) "Father of the modern obit: Hugh Massingberd (1946–2007)", *The Sydney Morning Herald*, Weekend Edition, 5–6 January 2008, p. 56 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Richard A. Storey, 'Rootes, (William) Geoffrey, second Baron Rootes (1917–1992), industrialist', in *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography* (OUP, 2007) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Bruce Sharman"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0788935/). *IMDb*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Wallace wins GB's first aerials gold"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/winter-sports/31925014). *BBC Sport*. ## External links - [Official website](http://www.portregis.com) v t e Education in Dorset (including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Primary Atlantic Academy Portland St Mark's CE Primary School St Peter's RC School Secondary All Saints CE Academy Atlantic Academy Portland Avonbourne Boys' Academy Avonbourne Girls' Academy Beaminster School The Bishop of Winchester Academy The Blandford School The Bourne Academy Budmouth Academy Corfe Hills School The Cornerstone Academy Ferndown Upper School Gillingham School Glenmoor Academy The Grange School The Gryphon School Highcliffe School LeAF Studio Lytchett Minster School Magna Academy Oak Academy Poole High School The Purbeck School Queen Elizabeth's School St Aldhelm's Academy St Edward's RC & CE School St Peter's RC School Shaftesbury School The Sir John Colfox Academy Sturminster Newton High School The Thomas Hardye School Twynham School Wey Valley Academy Winton Academy The Woodroffe School Grammar Bournemouth School Bournemouth School for Girls Parkstone Grammar School Poole Grammar School Independent (preparatory) Castle Court School Dumpton School Hanford School Port Regis School Sherborne Preparatory School Independent Bournemouth Collegiate School Bryanston School Canford School Clayesmore School Leweston School Milton Abbey School Ringwood Waldorf School Sherborne School Sherborne School for Girls Talbot Heath School Further education colleges Bournemouth and Poole College Kingston Maurward College Weymouth College Higher education Arts University Bournemouth Bournemouth University Health Sciences University Defunct Beaminster Grammar School Cranborne Chase School Durnford School Foster's School Homefield School Newell House School Oakdale School The Old Malthouse School St George's School St Peter's Primary School Swanage Grammar School Uplands School Weymouth College (independent) Authority control databases International VIAF National United States --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Port Regis School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Regis_School) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Regis_School?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.